Validating chemical candidates for axon regeneration in the rodent visual system

Neurons are like electrical wires that help the brain communicate with itself and other parts of the body. If broken, this ability is impaired, leading to reduced sensation and or motor function. Neurons in the mature mammalian central nervous system (CNS) don’t grow back after injury due to cellular, biochemical and physical barriers. Currently, there are no therapeutics for complete functional recovery from CNS injury, so identifying treatments that target different barriers to regeneration will be important for the development of a novel therapeutic strategy. Collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) stabilizes microtubules, which are part of the cell’s cytoskeleton, and promotes their regeneration, but CRMP2 cannot perform this function when it’s phosphorylated. CRMP2 phosphorylation increases after injury, making regeneration more difficult. Excitingly, several candidate chemicals that inhibit CRMP2 phosphorylation have been identified and screened in a zebrafish spinal cord injury model. This project aims to determine which of these chemicals promotes the most effective regeneration in the mouse visual system, which is part of the CNS. This will be accomplished first by applying the chemical to mouse retinal ganglion cells on a plate and later by administering the chemical to a live mouse following optic nerve crush injury.

Faculty Supervisor:

Alyson Fournier

Student:

Partner:

Waseda University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: